Sanitary napkin support



1951 H. G. OELLERICH, JR 2,565,738

SANITARY NAPKIN SUPPORT Filed July 5, 1950 HANS s. oELLERIcl-I JR.

INVENTOR BY 5% i/Tm ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY NAPKIN SUPPORT Hans G. Oellerich, Jr., Oneonta, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1950, Serial No. 17 2,105

8 Claims. 125-291) My invention is for improvements in sanitary napkin or pad supports.

The improvements, according to my invention, provide for the support of a sanitary napkin so that there is a contour fit of the holder of the napkin with, the body portions of the wearer, thus relieving chafing and permitting a comfortable fit. The holder is provided with tape supports hemmed into the. inturned sides and forward edge of the holder so that the two side edges of the napkin are held turned in and no overflow is permitted.

Additional improvements provide for a holder of substantially elongated triangular shape with concave edges adjacent the inner thigh engaging portions. for contour fit and the base of the sub.- stantially triangular shaped holder is positioned forward where it is supported at each corner where loops are formed in the above. referred to tape. This support is by means of the'ends of an elastic belt being attached to the loops and extending upwardly and rearwardly over the hips and around the waist of the wearer. The rear end of the holder is supported by having the hemmed side tapes protruding in parallel adjacent relationship beyond the rear of the holder where they are attached to the elastic belt. This rear end attachment of the protruding tapes permits stretching apart of the protruding tape ends to form agripping aperture within which is se cured the rear tab of a sanitary napkin cradled in the holder.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sanitary napkin holder and its supporting belt;

Figure 2 is a plan view looking down on th sanitary napkin holder;

Figure 3 is a view of one of the forward corner loop supports of the holder as attached to an adjustable end of the elastic supporting belt;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the rear end of the holder showing its attachment'by means of the hemmed in tapes to the belt and the securing of the rear tab of a sanitary napkin by means of a gripping and friction action;

Figure 5 showsa buckle or fastener as used for adjusting and securing the looped ends of the belt;

Figure 6 is a front view showing the two forward points of suspension of the holder and belt in place on the wearer;

Figure 'i is a rear view of the holder and belt in position on the wearer showing the rear or third point of suspension;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing how the holder supported by its side tapes holds the sanitary napkin in a cup shape in the pubic region of the wearer with the sides in the high part of the crotch; and s Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the stretched apart rear protruding tabs forming a gripping aperture for receiving and holding the rear tab of a sanitary napkin as further shown in Figure 4.

Throughout the various figures of the drawing like reference numerals designate corresponding parts.

'In Figure 1 the sanitary napkin or pad holder is indicated generally at In and the supporting elastic belt at H which provides a three point suspension, namely, at the two forward corners and at the rear end of the holder l0.

In Figure 2 there is shown the holder 1 I) which is of waterproof plastic fabric and the surface which is up receives the sanitary napkin l2 depicted in Figure 8. This holder II] is of substantially elongated trangular shape with the base 33 forming the front end or edge of the holder. The side edges of the holder [0 are slightly concaved inward from the front corners a to points b about the middle of the length of the holder ll These oppositely disposed side regions extending from a to b fit the contour of the inner adjacent thigh portions of the wearer in the high crotch area. From points b the sides of the holder gradually converge towards each other to the end points 0 of the holder as best shown in Figures 2' and 9. Bounding the edges of the holder ID is a tape 13 which is secured by having the edge of the holder folded over the tape and stitched into place by the stitching indicated at M. As an alternative, the plastic material, of which the holder l0 may be formed, may be folded over the tape and bonded'to itself to form a sealed in hem for the tape. At each forward corner a the tape is unattached to the holder 1 0 so as to leave corner loops l5 and I6 for attaching the ends of the belt ll while the corners of the holder are folded over and stitched by the stitching I4 or bonded as described above. In Figure 8 there is shown how the tape l3 at the sides is secured in the side heme and forms the supporting means for the fabric material of the holder I 0. The rear ends I1 and S8 of tape l 3 protrude or extend beyond the rear end corners c--c of the holder It in adjacent parallel relationship. The tape ends I! and [8 are folded over the center rear portion of elastic belt H and secured thereto by stitching as indicated at 20. The rear end of the holder I0 is folded over to the line 2! but is not stitched. This arrangement of the tape ends I! and I8 serves to form a gripping aperture 22 as shown in Figure 9 when the belt I! is stretched so as to pull apart the adjacent parallel ends H and 13 which are shown in normal position in Figure 2. By this arrangement of parts, there is formed the gripping aperture 22 defined by the rear end of holder I 0, ends I! and 18 of the tape and the adjacent portion of the elastic belt II. This aperture 22 serves to hold the rear tab 23 on the sanitary napkin or pad l2 as shown in position in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 4, "the rear or longer tab 23 of the napkin is passed over the belt H and through the aperture 22 from rear to front while the tape ends I! and is are stretched apart. Upon releasing the stretched belt II, the tape ends I] and I8 and the adjacent portion of the belt ll grip the tab 23 and hold it securely along with the frictional holding by the adjacent parts which the tab 23 touches. The showing in Figure 4 is with the tab 23 draped around loosely for purposes of illustrating the relationship of the parts.

In Figure 3 there is shown the adjustable attachment of an end of belt I l to loop 55 to support one of the corners of holder IE1 at its forward end. The end 24 of the belt H is passed through the fastener 25,-through the loop l and back through the fastener 25 underneath the upper lay of the belt end H as is well known in the art, thereby permitting suitable lengthening and shortening of the belt I I. A similar fastener 2'5 serves to fasten the other end of the belt in the other corner loop [6.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7-, there is shown the contour and form fitting of the holder Hi. There is a secure and comfortable three point suspension provided for the holder in the two forward loops [5 and I6 and the rear tape ends I! and IS. The belt H extends from the loops [5 and I6 upwardly and backwardly over the natural creases in the hips and at the waist and around the back of the wearer in a slight dipping fashion as shown in Figure '7 where the belt supports the rear end of the holder I8. By this arrangement of my supporting belt, there is eliminated the need for a belt which crosses the abdomen. By the design and arrangement of the parts according to my invention, the napkin and holder produces a balanced suspension that causes the napkin and holder to cling closely to the pubic region of the wearer and yet there is no showing of any protrusions or bulges, nor are the belt and holder conspicuous in any posture as every member of the combination of holder and belt falls into hollow spaces of the wearers body contour.

In Figure 8 there is best shown the cupping and cradling support of the sanitary napkin l2 by the holder II! which is carried by the side portions of the tape I3 in the side hems. The pubic region of the wearer is generally indicated from d to e and the pad I2 is held cupped shaped about this region. The sides of the pad 12 are held turned in, as indicated at 26 and 27 in the area cording to my invention provides a long felt need. The napkin I2 is cradled in place in the holder l0 and held in place by the rear tab 23 of the napkin being pinched tightly in the gripping aperture 22. By this support, according to my invention, there is no need for attaching the normal forward tab of the napkin and it may be left in its normal folded position on the napkin or pad. The napkin cannot move out of position. The napkin is held in a comfortable. contour fitting position and does not pull or chafe. The holder so holds the napkin that the clothing is fully protected from becoming soiled and imparts to the wearer a sense of security against any mishaps or accidents, yet no pins or fasteners are used to secure the napkin according to my invention.

The holder and belt, according to my invention, are easy and economical to manufacture.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor; said holder comprising an elongated substantially triangular shaped body portion of fabric material with the base of the triangular shaped body forming the forward end of the holder and the rear end having its sides converging towards each other, and a tape with rear ends protruding beyond the rear end of the body portion extending forward along each marginal upper side and forward end of the'holder where the marginal sides of the holder are hemmed over the tape, except that said tape is unattached to the holder at each of its forward. corners thereby forming an attaching-loop for each end of said belt; and said supporting belt being of elastic material and attached at its ends to the forward corner loops of the tape portion of said holder thereby providing a two point forward end support for the holder and extending rearwardly where the center length of the belt is attached to said protruding adjacent rear ends of said tape whereby the adjacent rear protrudof the high crotch portions 28 and 29 of the wearer. Thus, the sanitary napkin I2 is held with its outer edges turned in and at a higher level than the center portion 36 whereby no overfiow or leakage from the sanitary napkin is permitted.

The holder ID of waterproof plastic material as well as the belt H may be easily and conveniently laundered.

This sanitary napkin and its belt support QC}! ing ends of the tape may be stretched apart to provide an aperture therebetween at the end of the holder for receiving and securing therebetween by gripping action the rear tab of a sanitary napkin cradled by said holder and. whereby the belt provides a three point suspension of the holder at its two forward corners and at its rear end, said holder providing a support for a sanitary napkin positioned therein in a cup-shaped manner with the hemmed in tape extending along the sides of the holder thereby maintaining the sides of the sanitary napkin turned inward and at a higher level than the center of the sanitary napkin to prevent leakage therefrom.

2. A sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor according to claim 1 wherein the end portions of said supporting belt where attached to said loops on the holder are provided with adjusting means whereby the length of said belt may be decreased or increased to fit the belt to the wearer.

3. A sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor of the character described in claim 1 wherein the holder is of plastic material and the tape along the edges of said holder is securedin a sealed in hem made by the edges of the holder being folded over the tape and intimately bonded to the adjacent body portion along the holder.

4. A sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor of the character described in claim 3 wherein the substantially triangular shaped body portion the forward POrtions of the sides extending in an oppositely disposed concave manner to conform to the contour of the adjacent crotch portions of the wearer of the holder.

5. A sanitary napkin holder and supporting belt therefor of the character described in claim 4 wherein the end portions of said supporting belt where attached to said loops on the holder are provided with adjusting means whereby the length of the belt may be decreased or increased to fit the belt to the wearer.

6. In combination a sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor; said holder being of fabric material and having an elongated body consisting of a triangular shaped rear portion with the apex portion of the triangle portion forming its rear end and a forward portion having oppositely disposed concave sides extending from the rear ends of the sides of the triangular portion to a front edge which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongated body, said concave edges of the forward portion being adapted to fit the contour of the upper crotch portion of the wearer of the holder, and a tape bounding said holder with rear ends protruding beyond the rear end of the holder and extending forward along each marginal upper side and forward end of the holder where the marginal sides of the holder are hemmed over the tape except that said tape is unattached to the holder at each forward corner thereby forming an attaching loop for each end of said belt; and said supporting belt being of elastic material and attached at its ends to the forward corner loops of the tape portion of said holder thereby providing a two point forward end support for the holder and extending rearwardly where the center length of the belt is attached to said protruding adjacent rear ends of said tape whereby the adjacent rear protruding ends of the tape may be stretched apart to provide an aperture bounded by the belt, the two protruding ends of the tape and the rear end of the holder for receiving and securing therein by gripping action, the rear tab of a sanitary napkin cradled by said holder and whereby the belt provides a three point suspension of the holder at its two forward corners and at its rear end, said holder providing a support for a sanitary napkin positioned therein in a cup-shaped manner with the hemmed in tape extending along the sides of the holder thereby maintaining the sides of the sanitary napkin turned inward and at a higher level than the center of the sanitary napkin to prevent leakage therefrom.

'7. A sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor of the character described in claim 6 wherein the holder is of plastic material and the tape along the edges of said holder is secured in a sealed in hem made by the edges of the holder being folded over the tape and intimately bonded to the adjacent body portion along the holder.

8. A sanitary napkin holder and a supporting belt therefor; said holder being of pliable clothlike material and having an elongated-body consisting of a triangular shaped rear portion with the apex at the rear end of the holder and a forward portion having oppositely disposed concave sides extending from the rear ends of the sides of the triangular portion to a front edge which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, said concave edges of the forward portion being adapted to fit the contour of the upper inner thigh portions of the wearers body, and a tape bounding the edge of said holder and secured within an edge hem, said tape forming a support for said enlongated body portion of the holder; and said supporting belt being of elastic material and attached at its ends to said bounding tape at the forward corners of the holder and at its center rear portion to the tape at the rear apex of said triangular holder portion thereby providing a three point suspension for said holder.

HANS G. OELLERICH, JR.

No references cited. 

